"the point of this thread is that your not gunna need the food because your not going to F$#ing Egypt most of these fools are running to the nearest cosco/wal-mart the energy bars are to give you substance in case they get hungry between the front door of they're house and the door to your SUV. also the cliff bars are a specific brand of energy bar consisting of "Hippi food" so there is only natural sugars and carbs. we ate em in Iraq all the time because they are the best survival food/ energy bar on the market. "

"I'm sorry for all you he-man types. I'm married with 3 stepdaughters and they did not get a BOB they got an LBV (load bearing vest ) This vest had a small first aid kit, a knife, 2 ways to start a fire, a poncho, a space blanket, and any non thirst making bar they wish to carry. This still left a lot of room in a normal vest for flashlights, TP ( hey I'm old) Dry chicken broth , You get the idea. All in a vest once on never off.Then your pack is just a plus. A cheap copy is any fishing vest. With a glow stick in a vest if you get lost in the middle of the night you get found.
"

"Sorry for the little MRE vs energy bar rant... couldn't contain myself.
Wouldn't a knife be very handy in a BOB, even if not for killing? I also like to keep paracord and about 40ft of ducktape in my bag because things always need securing and tying together. As Legion said, TP is something I think should be in every BOB as it has multiple purposes (wiping, tinder, blowing nose, stuffing into things, putting between metal object in pack to prevent sound)."

"00mace: Like Alicestar put so well (summarizing) "these bags are light packs and are not your complete survival kit including your canned foods and spare tire for your car." Cliff bars will keep you going for a long time and are great between meals when you are running around and don't have time to sit down and make yourself a 3 course lunch. They provide what your body is going to be using up when exerting yourself. They do have about 20g of sugar in each one, about as much as a can of soda, but it isn't enough to bring you up and down a lot when you are on the go. Just the opinion of a hardcore backpacker/rock climber who wouldn't know how to sustain himself on the go!"